Lady Trojans conquer Jamestown in Senior Night double overtime contest

New Kent's Yazmine Brown (10) is fouled on her shot attempt by Jamestown's Jessica Felder. Brown sank both free throws.

Robb Johnson photo

A Feb. 11 Senior Night contest for the New Kent Lady Trojans will be one for them to remember.

Down by as many as 13 points, the Lady Trojans rallied to upend the visiting Jamestown Lady Eagles 69-62 in the Bay Rivers District double overtime contest.

Jamestown led early 8-2 before Lady Trojan Katelyn Norman sparked a retaliation for the hosts to tie the game at eight apiece. However, the discipline natured of the visiting Lady Eagles propelled them to a 16-10 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The momentum continued to favor the visitors, as Jessica Felder’s close-range basket was followed by Morgan Lee’s uncontested lay-in to up the Lady Eagles advantage to eight (20-12). The struggles continued for New Kent, as senior starter Natasha Lange was tagged with her third foul at the 5:43 mark of the frame. In response, Jamestown’s lead grew, capped off by Morgan Foster’s trifecta to give the visitors their largest lead of the night (27-14).

New Kent leaned on the shooting of senior Madison Foley. Her three-pointer played an important role as the hosts whittled Jamestown’s lead down to five (30-25) by the time halftime intermission rolled around.

The Lady Trojans cut the lead down to four (35-31) before head coach Neko Burson was saddled with a technical foul. Keoahni Smith would convert one of the free throws before returning to the line shortly afterwards and sinking two more to up Jamestown’s lead to seven (38-31).

For most of the game, every time New Kent cut the lead closer, Jamestown rebounded with a run of its own. With the visitors leading 49-41, the Lady Trojans made one last rally. Foley sank two free throws before her swipe and score cut the lead back down to four. Teammate Haley Hyndshaw added a basket in the pain before Norman’s jumper capped an 8-0 run and tied the game at 49 apiece at the 2:12 mark.

Victoria Maclean’s free throws returned the lead to Jamestown, but with two seconds left, Norman’s size allowed her to drain a clutch basket in the pain with two seconds remaining, sending the contest into overtime.

Jamestown’s opportunity to seal the game in the first overtime fell by the wayside, as Lady Eagle Eileen Huffles failed to put the game away at the free throw line, forcing overtime number two. The break provided enough momentum for the hosts, as Foley’s three-pointer at the top of the key gave the hosts a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Adding a 6-2 run along the way, New Kent sealed the win to cap off a successful Senior Night.

After the game, Burson praised his team’s phenomenal effort throughout the game.

“Tonight showed off why our seniors are so special and so invaluable,” he said. “It hurts me to have them off the floor after a couple of them got into foul trouble.

“The leadership is what is going to push us through,” Burson added, pointing to a run at the postseason. “We have girls who were part of our run a couple of years ago back when we went to the second round of the regionals. They know what it’s like and they know what to expect, so we are excited.”

Norman’s 26 points were the team high for New Kent (14-7). Foley (14), McKenna Mueller (13), and Hyndshaw (11) all finished in double figures, Lange and Yazmine Brown both tossed in two, and Hannah Drewer chipped in with one.